
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 8, 1995                   TAG: 9509080059
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ADRIANNE BEE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SEPTEMBERFEST STARTS TONIGHT IN RADFORD

You're a bit confused. You walked into Wal-Mart and saw witch costumes, plastic pumpkins, and candy corn on display. Wasn't it only yesterday that you were drinking umbrella drinks by the pool?

OK, maybe your summer wasn't that relaxing but it's still easy to feel down as the days of sunshine come to a halt.

Yes, September has its drawbacks - going back to school and homework. But it also has its perks.

Main Street Radford's 7th annual Septemberfest kicks off tonight.

The activities begin at 5 p.m. with a Fashion Show at Sew Biz in the 105-year-old Central Depot building on the corner of First and Harvey Streets. The show, entitled "A Taste of Fall," will feature garments, fashion accessories and quilts by area artists.

At 6 p.m., Jazz Night begins in the adjoining courtyard. Chateau Morrisette will feature a wine tasting while the Miles High Jazz Band plays. Catered food will be available for a fee. The wine tasting and the fashion show will cost $2 each. Bottles of Morrisette veno will be available for purchase.

Saturday will feature all day entertainment from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Norwood Street. Vendors will bring food, handcrafts, jewelry, imported clothing and even palm reading to the Radford festival.

At 11 a.m. the music will start with the Blacksburg Community Band. The entertainment will run in hour intervals. At 12 p.m. the beach band Breeze will play, then Tina Hicks Line Dancing Demonstration and Instruction, followed by the country sounds of Broken Reins. The rock band Heather Gray will be up next, then the blues of M R Ducks will fill the air. Rock Bottom's Southern Rock, and the country bluegrass band, Crossties, will lead up to the headliner.

At 7 p.m. Blackwater will go on stage, returning from last year's Septemberfest. A versatile band, Blackwater is known for playing everything from a good old-fashioned country song to an upbeat driving rock tune. Radford University Student Life teamed up Main Street Radford in arranging this wide variety of music for the community to enjoy.

The City of Radford, NationsBank and the Central Depot also gave support that made the festival possible.

There will be free parking a plenty in the municipal parking lot, along Norwood Street between Harrison Street and the entrance to Bisset Park, and at the Radford University Commuter Lot at the east end of the festival area.

So, fold up the tiny umbrellas for your drinks, put them in storage for next summer and celebrate the fall.

by CNB